Western Equatoria government refutes SPLA opening firing in mosque allegations

May 25, 2011 (KAMPALA) – Authorities of Western Equatoria state (WES), South Sudan, on Wednesday refuted an article published in Khartoum-based newspaper, Alintiber that alleged that “SPLA [Sudan People’s Liberation Army] soldier opened fire on Tuesday in a mosque killed one person and injured many others.”

The acting governor of WES and official spokesperson for the government, Gibson Bullen Wande described the publication as a “baseless and false allegation against SPLA forces.”

Wande clarified that what happened in the mosque was an “isolated incident in which one criminal who was drunk dressed in police uniform that went and shot at people in the mosque during evening prayers – two people were injured one Somali and one Sudanese currently getting treatment at Yambio hospital.”

“What I am trying to say is that the incident that happened in the mosque is an isolated case which has no political or insecurity connection with neither the Muslim brothers nor anybody,” explained Wande.

He went on to say “communities of WES do not have bad heart against Muslims as written in the newspaper. I condemn the newspaper for publishing false article that tarnishes the image of the state.”
 
Wande said the criminal has been arrested and is under “investigation in the police custody in Yambio.”

South Sudan and Western Equatoria in particular is predominantly Christian. Tensions with the predominantly Muslim north are increasing in the run-up to the deceleration of the independence of Republic of South Sudan so the conflict being perceived as having a religious element is particularly inopportune now. Interpreting the conflict between north and South and a religious conflict is reductive.

The 22-year civil war between north and South Sudan ended in 2005 with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). A stipulation of the agreement was the for autonomy for South Sudan. The South Sudanese voted in favor of secesion in January 2011. The birth of the Republic of South Sudan if scheduled for 9 July. What the future will hold for the signatories of the CPA is uncertain as conflict continues in the borderlands.

(ST)